Dr. Robert Stadler

Aliases: "Dr. Stadler"; "the Nobel laureate"; in flashback "Professor Stadler" of Patrick Henry University.

Role

The world's greatest living physicist. Co-founder, with the federal government, of the State Science Institute. One of the three legendary teachers at Patrick Henry University (with Akston and an unnamed third), trained Galt, Francisco, and Danneskjöld. The novel's tragedy of an able mind that sold its sanction to the State and could not take it back. Dies in the Project X explosion in Ch. 30.

Personality / energy

Intellectually formidable, morally exhausted, increasingly self-deceiving. Begins the novel still able to feel disgust; ends it acting on his last shred of pride at the cost of his life.

Physical description

Late sixties. Tall (~6'0"), thin, slightly stooped. White hair worn neatly combed back from a high forehead. A long lined intellectual face — high cheekbones, deep-set haunted gray eyes, thin firm mouth. Long fine hands. The distinguished European-academic bearing.

Outfit

• At the Institute (Ch. 11): a dark conservative three-piece suit, white shirt, dark tie; the small Nobel medal on a fine chain in his pocket
• At Project X (Ch. 25): tuxedo and dark overcoat in winter sun
• At the Persuader (Ch. 29): dark suit, ashen face
• Patrick Henry flashback: academic black gown over the dark suit

Visual motifs

• A small Nobel medal turning between two fingers under green desk-lamp light
• A tower office of glass and concrete in a New England pine forest
• A pillared university quad in autumn elms (flashback)
• A microphone on a winter cornfield platform

Power signature

Not applicable. His "signature" is the small Nobel medal, the tower office, and the haunted face.

Chapter appearances

11, 25, 27 (in studio), 29, 30.

Source references

• Wikipedia — Atlas Shrugged: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Shrugged
• SparkNotes — Atlas Shrugged character list: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/atlasshrugged/characters/

Confidence

High — Stadler's physical signature and arc are canonical.